April why dont you go with top feeders? they are easier to refill (without a suit or vail) and you dont cause robbing like you do with a entrance feeder.

Actually I already have top feeders but I have heard some say how much of a pain it is to inspect the hive with these on. I will be getting my first package of bees next week and another package next month and thought that maybe until the colonies get built up a bit it would be better to use an entrance feeder since I will be making frequent inspections at first. Any thoughts?

we probably all have them around because they are horrible and we don't use them. :-D

two easy ways to feed without having to get into hive. use bucket feeder on top of inner cover, or as bee-bop does. use something like 1 gallon quail waterer with rocks in the dish 50 feet or so from hives.

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I use entrance feeders regularly. I have never seen a hive with a feeder on get robbed before June. They are easy to change, easy to check, and you don't need to open the hive. After June 1st, I use them to open feed away from the hives. I also use top feeders, but not on hives I want to check often. Only on ones that will be left alone for an extended period.

Similar to bee bop, I put the feeder on the outside of the entrance, then block the entrance beside it, leaving only a small opening on the opposite side.

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